Typographical distributing machine



Nov. 1, 1932. J. H. HlLPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE FiledFeb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l lm h'k.

INVENTOR TORNfi: 6%

Nov. 1, 1932. J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE FiledFeb. 15. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 transferred to the face of a mold, themold Patented Nov. 1, 13-2 r are" s insane JOHN H. HILPMAN, J3 HOLLIS,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINO'IYPE COMPANY, A GOR.-.'ORATIONOF NEW YORK TY POGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Application filedFebruary 1930. Serial No. 428,678.

This invention relates to typographical distributing machines, suchlinotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S.Letters Patent to O. li iergenthalerh o. 436,582, wherein circulatingmatrices are released from a magazine in the order in which theircharacters are to appear print and then assembled in line, the composedline filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against thematrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matricesthereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine fromwhich they started. p

In these machines, it is the common practice to make use of matricesother than those contained in the magazines. 'lhese extra or sortsmatrices are inserted by hand into the matrix line in the course ofcomposition and, after the casting operation, are carried up with theline to the distributing mechanism,

end of the stick for directing the matrices from the delivery end of thetube onto the ledge, a yielding line resista slidabl mounted on theledge, and a star wheel arranged at the lower end of the throat forstacking the matrices successively in line against the resistant.

While the pi-stackers, ordinarily constructed, are capable of handlingsatisfactorily matrices ranging in thickness up to approximately of aninch, serious diliiculties have arisen in an endeavor to adapt them tothe extremely thick sorts-matrices now used in conjunction with the headletter and display fonts carried in the more modern machines and whichcomprise matrices ranging as high as of an inch in thickness. ample,minor changes, such as increasing the width of the throat and using astar wheel sufficiently large to cooperate therewith,

For ex seemed at first all that would be necessary, but it has sincebeen discovered by experiment that the action of a large star wheel ismuch too severe, the matrices, (particularly the thinner ones, whichhappen to strike the arms of the star in certain positions of thelatter) being thrown violently against the fixed right wall of thethroat and otherwise knocked about before they are stacked in the line.Damage to the matrices or a clogging of the throat, or both, usuallyresults. Furthermore, due to the increased width of the throat, thethinner matrices in their descent t irough the same are free to twistand wabble about and seldom engage the star wheel properly. Also, unlessthe thick heavy matrices happen to be interrupted in their fall by thestar wheel, they strike the supporting ledge with such force that in acomparatively short time their lower edges become worn and battered andhave to be discarded.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above and otherdilhcult-ies and contemplates a pi-stacker which will be capable ofhandling sorts-matrices of the maximum thickness with the same ease andfacility as those of ordinary or less thickness. To this end, firstly,he star wheel is formed with only two arms, instead of the usual tour,so as to stand completely out of the path of the descending matrices atevery half revolution; secondly, the supporting ledge of the stacker isinclined downwardly from the horizontal so as to cause the matricesthereon to assume a forward inclination from the vertical in order toincrease the space ordinarily provided between the upper-end of the lastassembled matrix and the left wall of the throat; and thirdly, theentrance throat of the stacker is provided with a resilient guide memberwhich is adapted not only to straighten up the thin matrices as theyapproach the line but in addition to break the fall of the thickermatrices before they reach the sup porting ledge. As a result of theseimprovements, the thickest sorts-matrices are allowed free entrance intothe line without danger of striking the upper edge of the matrix lastassembled, and since the lower end of the la ter, due to the inclinationof the ledge, is closside *tion 'has been shown merely in preferredform, but obviously many changes and variations may be made thereinwhich will still be comprised within its spirit. For instance,

the (fi-stacker throat, including the resilient gui member, might becarried in whole or in. rt by the delivery tube, and moreover sai idememwr could be made in the form of a at leaf spring, instead of in theform of a resiliently mounted plate as herein illustrated, but in suchcase the throat should preferably be detachably connected to thepistacker. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is notlimited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as suchlimitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a linotype machine equipped with theimproved pi-stacker;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the receiving end ofthe pi-stacker, showing the driving connection for the star wheel;

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the pi-stacker, showing it attached tothe machine; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a rtion of theimproved pi-stacker, showing in dotted lines the action of the hingedguide plate on a descending matrix as it is about to enter the matrixline.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sorts-matrices X released by the distributor 0enter the long flexible pi-tube P and descend therethrough by gravity tothe pi-stacker A, the latter being attached by two bolts or screws a toa bracket A secured to the right-hand front post 0 of the machine frame.

The pi-stacker A (see Figs. and 3) comprises an irregularly shapedcast-iron body rtion B formed with a horizontal hub proection B and along upright rearwardly tilted back portion B extending forwardly fromthe body portion at an angle convenient to the o erator. At its loweredge, the back portion is provided with a right angularly disposed shelfor ledge B of corresponding length and upon which the sorts-matrices areassembled in line under the influence of a rotary star wheel C, thelatter being adapted to push the matrices, one after another, out of thepath of succeeding matrices and simultaneously advance the line alongthe ledge To sustain the line endwise, the stacker is equipped, asusual, with a line resistant block D, which is slidably mounted on theledge B so as to be capable of yielding as the length of the lineincreases. The block D is formed with an open finger notch d tofacilitate its manipulation and is provided with a sprin clip 55 forrestraining it against accidenta dis lacement, the free end of the clipbein resiliently engaged with a longitudina groove b on the underside ofthe ledge B arfrd extending throughout the length there- 0 As thesorts-matrices enter the pi-stacker, they are directed onto the ledge Bin operative relation to the star wheel C through a throat or chute Emounted at the receiving end of the pi-stacker above the ledge. Thethroat E, as usual, is inclined rearwardly from the vertical at an anglesuited to the curvature or general inclination of the lower delivery endof the tube P, this end of the tube (see Figs. 1 and 3) being rigidlysustained in alignment and communication with the throat E by a bracketplate P rising from the body portion B of the pi-st-acker. Matricesdescending through the tube P are thus allowed to pass freely into thethroat and thence to the ledge B The throat E (as best shown in Figs. 3and 4 is constituted by a front side wall E fastened at its lower end tothe ledge B and paralleling the body portion B as the rear wall, and bythe long I left side wall E and the short right side wall E bothfastened by ofi'set flanges e to the body portion B.

The star wheel C (Fig. 2) is fixed to a short shaft C arrangedperpendicular to the front and rear side walls of the throat E andjournaled at its forward end in the front side wall E At its rear end,the shaft C is connected by a universal joint C to a horizontal driveshaft C journaled in the hub portion B before mentioned, and receivesmotion from the well-known intermediate shaft 0 through the drivingulley C and the connecting belt C (Fi 1 As thus far described, theparts, their construction, and mode of operation are, or may be, thesame as those embodied in the commercial machines or as disclosed in thepatent to J. R. Rogers, No. 630,112. The present invention is directedto certain improvements which are intended to enable the pistacker tohandle matrices of a much greater thickness than has heretofore beenpracticable, as will now be dscribed.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the ledge B is inclineddownwardly from the horizontal so that the sorts-matrices X whensupported thereon will stand at an inclination forwardly from thevertical or reverse to that of the left wall E of the throat E, thelatter, as shown, being given the greater width required to accommodatesortsmatrices of maximum thickness. By this arrangement, a V-shapedspace, into which the matrices may fali as they emerge from the ces, thelatter may be pushed thereby far enough along the ledge B to locatetheir upper ends out of the path of following matrices even though theybe of the maximum thickness. I

In the present instance, the star wheel C, as will also be noted (Fig.4), is substantially elliptical in form and presents only two oppositelydisposed radial operating points or arms, 0, 0, instead of the usualfour, so that at every half revolution it will be disposed completelybehind the left wall E of the throat and thus permit the matrices topass uninterruptedly to the ledge B Moreover, the action of thisparticular form of star wheel has been found in practice to be lessviolent than that of a star wheel of standard form and to be moreeflicient 1n stacking the matrices in line.

As a further feature of the invention, the" pi-stacker A is providedwith a resilient guide member which, in the embodiment illustrated, isin the form of a plate or gate F disposed diagonally across the throat-E from right to left and mounted so as to be capable of displacement bythe matrices as they are about to enter the matrix line. This gate isintended to serve a two-fold purpose: first, to straighten up thethinner matrices (which are the ones most likely to become twisted inthe tube P or throat E) so as to insure their delivery in properposition to the star wheel E; and second, to break the fall of the thickor heavier matrices so as to prevent damage a to their lower edgesthrough contact with the ledge B As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thegate F is hinged at its upper edge to the short right wall E of thethroat and has its lower edge held resiliently engaged with the leftwall E by a thin wire spring F coiled around the hinge pin f. Thetension of the spring F is such that the gate F may be readily pushedaside by the thin matrices without unduly delaying their passage to thesupporting ledge B and, at the same time, offer sutlicient resistance tohold them flatly against the left wall E of the throat and so guide theminto proper position to be engaged by the star wheel G. On

the other hand, the resistance offered by the gate F to the descendingmatrices increases according to their thickness, so that the fall of thethicker or heavier matrices will be broken to the extent desired, thepoints at which these thicker matrices engage the gate being relativelyclose to the hinge pin fand the leverage exerted thereby being thereforecorrespondingly decreased. Furthermore, the spring-actuated gate F ispeculiarly suitable for the intended purposes, since its capacity toyield is not impaired by the comparatively limited space allowed.

The several features described, besides being useful in andof-themselves, cooperate with one another in a most advantageous manner,all contributing to the production of a simple but extremely eflicientpi-stacker and one particularly adapted to handle matrices of all sizes,whether thick or thin, such as are now used in the commercial machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is a 1. In or for atypographical distributing machine, a pi-stacker for circulatingsortsmatrices including, in combination, a ledge whereon the matricesare supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving end of thepi-st'acker for directing the matrices onto the ledge, a rotary two-armstar wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emergefrom the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the line, and aresilient memberarranged atthe lower end of the throat for guiding thematrices into the line.

2. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a pi-s'tacker forcirculating sortsmatrices including, in combination, a ledge whereon thematrices are supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving endof the stacker for directing the matrices onto the ledge, a rotarytwo-arm star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line asthey emerge from the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining theline, and a resilient member arranged at the lower end of the throat forguiding the matrices'into the line, said ledge being inclined downwardlyfrom the horizontal toward the outer end of the pistacker, for thepurpose described.-

3. In or for a typographical distributing machine, a'pi-stacker forcirculating sortsmatrices including, in combination, a cast metal bodyportion formed with a back portion projecting therefrom, amatrixsupporting ledge fastened to the lower edge of said back'portionand inclined downwardly from the horizontal, a throat secured to saidbody portion above the ledge and having its left wall inclinedbackwardly from the vertical, a rotary star wheel having only twooppositely disposed radial arms for stacking the matrices in line asthey emerge from the threat, a yielding resistant for sustaining theline, and a resilient member associated with the throat for guiding thematrices into the line.

or chute located at the receiving end of the stacker for directing theincoming matrices onto the ledge, a rotary star wheel for stacka ing thematrices successively in line as they emerge from the throat, and ayielding resistant for sustaining the matrices in line, the said ledgebeing inclined downwardly from the horizontal toward the outer end ofthe stacker, and the left wall of said throat inclined backwardly fromthe vertical, the line of intersection between the ledge and the leftwall of the throat being so arranged with reference to the star wheel asto cause the latter in its rotation to engage the lower endsof thematrices when supported at a forward inclination on the ledge. J 5. Inor for a typographical distributing machine, a pi-stacker forcirculating sortsmatrioes inc uding, in combination, aledge whereon thematrices are supported, a throat or chute located at the receiving endofthe stacker for directing the incoming matrices onto the ledge, arotary two-arm star wheel for stacking the matrices successively in lineas they emerge from the throat, and a yielding resistant for sustainingthe matrices in line, the said ledge being inclined downwardly from thehorizontal toward the outer end of the stacker, and the left Wall ofsaid throat bein inclined backwardly from the vertical, the line ofintersection between the ledge and the left wall of the throat being soarranged with reference to the star wheel as to cause the latter in itsrotation to engage the lower ends of the matrices when supported at aforward inclination on the ledge.

6. In or for a tipographical distributing machine, a i-stac er forcirculating sortsmatrices inc uding, in combination, a ledge whereon thematrices are supported, a throat 4o or chute located at the receivingend of the stacker for directing the incoming matrices onto the ledge,said throat having its left wall extendin down to the matrix supportingledge and its right wall terminating well I 45 above the ledge, a rotarystar wheel for stacking the matrices successively in line as they emergefrom the throat, a yielding resistant for sustaining the matrices inline, and a resilient matrix guide member arranged at the 50 lower endof the right wall of the throat and forming a downward continuationthereof, said guide member extending across the throat toward the leftwall thereof and ter minating above the matrix supporting ledge 53 at adistance greater than the length of an individual matrix.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

JOHN H. HILPMAN.

